Wilson Jock Image 1 Heart of Midlothian 1922

Description

Sunderland born left back Jock Wilson began his football career with junior club Newmilns, from where he was signed by Scottish League club Heart of Midlothian in November 1914, Wilson making his Scottish League debut in a 3-1 win over Partick Thistle at Tynecastle in March 1915, establishing himself as a regular in Hearts’ 1915-16 campaign, and he was selected to play for The Scottish League in a wartime match in 1916. However his career was soon interrupted by the onset of the First World War. After enlisting in April 1916, Wilson served as a private in The Royal Scots and was twice wounded during fighting on the Western Front in April 1917 and March 1918.

Wilson made a sufficient recovery to feature in 23 matches for The Jambos during their 1918-19 campaign and remained a regular for Hearts until the end of the 1924-25 season, when after 244 appearances for The Jambos he signed for Dunfermline Athletic in August 1925. He helped Dunfermline to the Second Division Championship in 1925-26 and played two further seasons in the top flight before joining Hamilton Academical in November 1928 after 11 goals in 117 appearances for The Pars. He enjoyed a further three seasons with The Accies, scoring 8 goals in 113 appearances before joining Second Division club St Johnstone in July 1931, already aged 37, and he won his second promotion from the Second Division, making 36 appearances as The Saints finished runners up in 1931-32 to regain their place in the top flight. However Wilson joined non league Penicuik Athletic at the end of the season before his retirement from playing. After retiring as a player, Wilson was involved in the founding of junior club Haddington Athletic in the late 1930’s.

Wilson’s father Hughie was a Scottish international footballer who was playing for Sunderland at the time of Wilson’s birth. The family eventually moved back to Scotland and settled in Newmilns.